Purpleanther Field Pepperweed, Purple Anther Field Pepperweed, Smith's Pepperwort: Lepidium heterophyllum (Synonym: Lepidium smithii)

The photo above shows a close-up of the inflorescence of the same species as shown below. Photographed at about 3900' on Road K6900 on the eastern slopes of Mt. Adams........June 17, 2006.

The photo above shows a close-up of the inflorescence of field peppergrass as seen at about 3720' along Road 8040 (in meadows below the hairpin curves in the road) at the south side of Mt. Adams.........May 28, 2005. Lepidium heterophyllum according to several dichotomous keys should be identified from the similar Lepidium campestre by its purplish anthers, while the latter should have cream-colored anthers, but I've not been able to use this characteristic reliably to tell the two apart.

The photo above shows a close-up of the developing seed pods of field peppergrass as seem at about 3770' along Road K6900 at a tributary of Dairy Creek on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Adams.........June 13, 2005. Notice how the pods are somewhat like the scoop of a shovel with winged and upturned margins and the style extending from the notched apex of the pod.

Close-ups of a clasping stem leaf (left), basal leaf (middle) and inflorescence and upper stem leaves (right) of field peppergrass as seen at about 3720' along Road 8040 (in meadows below the hairpin curves in the road) at the south side of Mt. Adams.........May 28, 2005. Note the numerous hairs on both leaf surfaces. Note the long petiole and entire margins on the basal leaf blade and the irregular serrations on the stem leaf. Note the clasping leaf bases and that at the commencement of bloom, the inflorescence is compact, but it elongates as the plant goes to seed (See photos below.).

The photo above shows the developing seed pods of field peppergrass as seem at about 3770' along Road K6900 at a tributary of Dairy Creek on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Adams.........June 13, 2005.

The photo above shows the basal leaves of field peppergrass as seen at about 3720' along Road 8040 (in meadows below the hairpin curves in the road) at the south side of Mt. Adams.........May 28, 2005. One way to identify L. heterophyllum from L. campestre is that the former has multiple ascending stems while the latter has a single erect stem.